It was a hat trick of historic markers Saturday afternoon as Minnesota shut out Montreal 3-0 in front of a record-setting 13,316 fans at Xcel Energy Center.
It was a hat trick of historic markers Saturday afternoon as Minnesota shut out Montreal 3-0 in front of a record-setting 13,316 fans at Xcel Energy Center.
Grace Zumwinkle scored the first hat trick in PWHL history—a natural hat trick—netting Minnesota's three goals, while Maddie Rooney stopped all 24 of Montreal's shots en route to a shutout in her PWHL debut.
First Home Win
Montreal was buzzing off the puck drop. Their top line of Tereza Vanišová, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Laura Stacey put Minnesota on their heels, and the rest of their lineup followed suit. Montreal got multiple high-danger chances within the match's first six minutes—Minnesota went without a shot.
Despite Montreal's pressure, Maddie Rooney shut the door, and her team repaid her efforts with under three minutes to go in the first.
Kelly Pannek forced a turnover in the offensive zone. Susanna Tapani picked up the puck near the boards and quickly tapped it to Zumwinkle. Zumwinkle walked around Kati Tabin and flicked a tough-angled backhander on the net. The puck squeaked by Ann-Renée Desbiens, giving Zumwinkle her second goal in as many games.
The second period was a penalty-filled affair for Minnesota. Abby Cook, Michela Cava, and Sophia Kunin each went to the box throughout the frame. Amid the trouble, the Minnesota-born defensive duo of Lee Stecklein and Maggie Flaherty spearheaded the penalty kill that kept Montreal off the board.
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead into the third-and-final frame despite getting outshot, out-chanced, and having significantly less offensive zone time through the first forty minutes.
While Montreal commanded periods one and two, the third was all Minnesota. A Zumwinkle point shot 1:47 into the frame beat Desbiens, giving Minnesota a cozy 2-0 lead. Seconds later, a slashing call on Montreal's Gabrielle David put Minnesota on the power play.
This opportunity was Minnesota's first of four power plays—including a five-on-three in the third as Montreal marched to the box. Despite coming up short, the power plays killed precious minutes off the clock.
With 3:51 remaining, Montreal's head coach, Kori Cheverie, pulled Desbiens, although they couldn't get anything going with the sixth attacker. Zumwinkle scored on the empty net, becoming the first player in PWHL history to score a hat trick as Minnesota won their second game in a row.
Grace Zumwinkle Shows Out
Zumwinkle foreshadowed her eventual offensive explosion in her pro-league debut. She scored her first PWHL goal and recorded three shots against Boston on Wednesday night while flashing her speed and forechecking skill.
This afternoon, Zumwinkle was named the game's first star as she showed why Minnesota selected her 13th overall at the inaugural PWHL draft.
Zumwinkle displayed her patience and offensive awareness on her first goal. She went undetected in the high slot as her line mates, Pannek and Tapani, battled for the puck along the boards. The open player received a pass from Tapani, and Zumwinkle used her speed and frame to get around the Montreal defender and sneak a backhander past Desbiens.
Zumwinkle showed off her offensive know-how, patience, and puck-carrying abilities on her second goal. She picked up the puck along the boards, skated to the point, and ripped a wrist shot on the net. The shot beat Montreal's netminder, giving Minnesota an insurance marker as she double-upped.
Her hat trick empty-net goal capped off the afternoon, giving fans their first chance to throw hats onto the ice as they watched their home-state player shine in her home debut.
Back-to-Back Goaltending Masterclasses
Minnesota's goaltending tandem of Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney is red hot. Coming off of Hensley's 33 saves, player of the game performance against Boston, head coach Ken Klee opted to start Rooney for their home opener and Rooney didn't disappoint.
Montreal tested Rooney early. They hemmed Minnesota in their defensive end multiple times, generated prime scoring chances, and looked much more lethal overall. This trend continued in the second period, where Montreal directed a period-high 12 shots on net.
Rooney got a break in the third. Zumwinkle's early insurance marker and a flurry of Montreal penalties kept the puck out of the defensive zone for most of the period. Montreal managed just three shots in the final frame, allowing Rooney to breathe after a mesmerizing first forty minutes.
Rooney earned the game’s second star and should envision more starts in her future, given her dominant performance against Poulin's PWHL Montreal.
Minnesota's Penalty Kill Shines Again
Special teams were a major factor in Minnesota coming away with the win Saturday afternoon. A slew of penalties tested their penalty kill in the second period, with Montreal getting three opportunities to tie the game.
Minnesota went three-for-three on the penalty kill. Stecklein and Flaherty led the charge on defense, deflecting passes, blocking shots, and clogging shooting lanes.
Despite not getting on the scoreboard, Heise used her strength to win puck battles along the boards. Emma Greco also stood out, effectively closing in on shooters and applying defensive pressure, making Rooney's life a little easier.
An 85.7 penalty kill percentage through two games is a promising sign for Minnesota. Despite pushing their luck against a deep, gifted offensive bunch in Montreal, their special teams again showed they could pull together and bunker down when needed.
Minnesota looks to win three straight as Sarah Nurse and PWHL Toronto come to town on Wednesday. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. CST.